Before we sat down, the doctor examined a number of sick men, of whom some hobbled up unassisted; others were carried on their comrades’ backs. Not a few were really unfit to march, but many were shamming.
The African Light Brigade—the Zephyrs—is composed of men who, through misconduct and frequent punishment, are removed from their regiments in France to serve the remainder of their time in Africa.
The heterogeneous troops that form the Foreign Legion can, to a certain extent, be moulded into a united body, imbued with a strong esprit de corps—thanks partly to stern discipline, and also to the fact of the Legion being aware that it has burnt its ships; but the case of the Light Brigade is quite different.
The men enter it on account of offences committed in other localities, but they retain their evil propensities, and indeed it would not be easy for them to improve while forced to associate with so many bad characters of every variety: fear alone keeps them straight.
It is true that a “Zephyr,” if he conduct himself well for a certain length of time, may be sent home to his division, but this rarely occurs. In fact, he may even be promoted in the Zephyr Brigade itself, but this is yet more rare.
A French officer told me that the difference between a soldier of the Legion and a Zephyr was, that a Legionary, even though he were a thief, would be forced to cease from being one, but a Zephyr, if he were not a thief, would certainly learn to be one.
In old days the Zephyrs fought well in many a close action, and their behaviour in time of war has often been brilliant, but in time of peace they are of little worth.
It follows that the commanding officers must be of the best—for it is sharp work for the chiefs. For that matter all the officers in Algeria and Tunisia are especially selected. Many lieutenants have year after year sought in vain to be sent on service with the troops in Africa, whilst others speedily obtain this privilege. Every year’s service there counts as double, both as regards pension and decorations.
I have seen lieutenants wearing the Legion of Honour solely because they had had sufficient length of service in Africa, whilst a young chef de bataillon, newly arrived from France where he had served during all the earlier portion of his career, had earned no decoration.
Indeed, it is really surprising that an officer who serves in Algiers or Oran should thereby gain so many advantages over another who is stationed in a little provincial town in France. As regards Tunisia it is intelligible, many parts of the country being unhealthy, and the heat ruining the nerves and being the cause of mental strain: but in Algiers—a bit of Paris!